Summary: Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius was sentenced to five years in prison on Tuesday for the killing of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.
Oscar Pistorius was sentenced to five years in prison on Tuesday for killing his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, according to The New York Times.
His legal team said that the law he was punished under requires him to serve 10 months of the sentence prior to being placed under house arrest. Pistorius was also sentenced on a three-year term on separate firearm charges.
Pistorius can apply for parole after serving half of his sentence.
“I’m just glad it’s over,” June Steenkamp, the victim’s mother, said.
Pistorius’ uncle, Arnold, told the media the following: “We accept the judgment. Let us move forward” and “give us some degree of dignity and privacy as we do so. Oscar will embrace this opportunity to pay back to society.”
Pistorius was found guilty of culpable homicide in September, but was acquitted on the more serious murder charges filed against him.
The prosecution in the case was looking for a jail term of 10 years and the defense looked for three years of house arrest and community service.
Pistorius has admitted to killing Steenkamp on February 14, 2013, but said he did it by mistake. He shot four rounds through a locked bathroom door when he thought there was an intruder in his home.
“It would be a sad day for this country if an impression was created that there is one law for the poor and disadvantaged and another for the rich and famous,” Judge Masipa said.
“Righteous anger,” she said, “should not cloud judgment.”
“The toilet was a small cubicle,” she said. “An intruder would have had no room to maneuver or escape.”
Following the sentencing, the International Paralympic Committee said Pistorius cannot compete in their games for the full length of his sentence.
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Image credit: New York Times